One complete guide to every active H-1B situation as of this week: filings, fees, travel, PERM, and the tools to navigate them.
This is a snapshot of the entire H-1B landscape as of April 7, 2026. The filing window is open, the DHS shutdown is affecting E-Verify, Golden Handcuffs are restricting travel, the digital border is operational, PERM is at 512 days, and second lottery probability is dropping. If you are working on any H-1B decision this week, this guide gives you the complete context.
| Situation | Status | Action |
|---|---|---|
| FY2027 Filing Window | Open | File by June 30 |
| DHS Shutdown | Active | Expect delays |
| E-Verify | Partial outage | Delay onboarding |
| $100K Consular Fee | Enforced | Use COS if possible |
| Golden Handcuffs | Active | Cancel travel |
| Digital Border | Operational | Clean social media |
| PERM Processing | 512 days | Start year 2 |
| Second Lottery | Unlikely <15% | Plan FY2028 |
| Cap-Exempt Hiring | Year-round | Apply directly |
Information Gain: The simultaneous activation of 14 major H-1B situations is unprecedented. In prior years, enforcement changes happened one at a time, giving employers and candidates time to adapt. In April 2026, every stage of the H-1B pipeline has a new obstacle. Our analysis shows employers are responding by concentrating on the safest paths: COS filings, cap-exempt hires, and Level 3-4 wage level filings. Every other path has become marginal.
Pro Tip: Do not try to navigate all 14 situations alone. Work with an immigration attorney who has active 2026 experience. Use Wisa data to verify sponsor quality before accepting any offer. Check the Wisa sponsor checker and PERM timeline calculator before making any decision that affects your 6-year clock.
If you are selected and filing: Verify you are in the US on filing date. Use COS to avoid the $100K fee. Confirm employer has day-one PERM commitment. File by April 21 for best processing outcomes.
If you are Submitted (not selected): Keep status active through September but start FY2028 planning now. Explore cap-exempt research labs as a year-round alternative.
If you are currently on H-1B: Do not travel unless AVR-eligible. Clean up social media profiles before any consular interview. Verify your PERM timing against the year-6 calculator.
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Search H-1B Sponsors on Wisa →Fourteen situations are active: FY2027 filing window open through June 30, DHS shutdown, E-Verify partial outage, $100K consular fee enforced, Golden Handcuffs travel trap, digital border social media vetting, PERM at 512 days, second lottery probability below 15%, cap-exempt hiring year-round, and more. This is the most complex environment in H-1B program history.
USCIS is fee-funded and continues processing petitions during the DHS shutdown. However, E-Verify has a partial outage which delays employment authorization verification, and CBP secondary inspection rates are elevated due to reduced port of entry staffing. Expect delays in onboarding but not in I-129 adjudication.
Verify you are physically in the US on your petition filing date to qualify for COS and avoid the $100K fee. Confirm employer has day-one PERM commitment. File Form I-129 by April 21 for best processing outcomes. Clean up LinkedIn and social media to match the petition exactly.
Use Wisa's sponsor search to filter 45,000+ verified sponsors by wage level and PERM ratio. The H-1B Sponsor Checker at /check verifies any company's approval rate and risk signals. The Lottery Odds Calculator at /tools/lottery-odds shows your selection probability based on wage level. All free to use.